What is a Bulging Disc
A bulging disc can have a number of different causes, including trauma from a sports-related injury or a car accident. The condition’s most common cause however is the natural aging process. Over time parts of the spine begin to break down after age-related changes. This makes them less able to support body weight and allows the spine to bend and twist. The spinal discs, which are located between adjacent vertebrae and act as shock absorbers, are prone to shrinkage and water loss as you grow older. Hence, this can lead to a loss in elasticity. Which can cause the outer layer of a disc to bulge out from between the surrounding vertebrae.
Common Symptoms
If a misshapen disc causes compression of the spinal cord or a spinal nerve root, you may experience symptoms including pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. However, the exact location of these symptoms will depend on the position of the affected disc in the spinal column:
- Cervical (Upper) Spine – nerves send signals to the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands
- Thoracic (Middle) Spine – nerves here affect the middle back, ribs, and abdomen
- Lumbar (Lower) Spine – nerves travel to the lower back, hips, buttocks, legs, and feet
Treating A Bulging Disc
In a very high number of cases, symptoms from a bulging disc can be relieved through a course of basic conservative treatments. This may include the use of anti-inflammatory or pain medication, appointments with a physical therapist, or healthy life choices such as dieting, performing moderate exercise, and quitting smoking among others. Some patients also pursue alternative therapies. These include restorative yoga, chiropractic manipulation, or acupuncture. But be aware that the effectiveness of alternative medicine is the source of debate in the mainstream medical community.
BEST Health System Can Help
If you are unable to find relief after several weeks or months of conservative treatment or alternative therapy, you may want to consider minimally invasive spine surgery performed at BEST Health System. These procedures are often the clinically appropriate first choice when compared to traditional open spine procedures. Moreover, they offer a reduced risk of infection and no lengthy recovery for our patients.
Contact us to schedule your initial consultation and to determine if you are a candidate for one of our procedures.
